The spinal cord rests inside the spinal canal. There are nerve roots branching out from the spinal cord at each level of the spinal vertebra. During a nerve root compression, the spinal nerve root is commonly compressed by an inflamed herniated intervertebral disc or the disc contents.

Lumbar radiculopathy is an irritation of a spinal nerve in the low back causing the pain to go down the leg. Cervical radiculopathy, on the other hand, are nerve compressions in the neck. Any pain transmitted away from the spine by an irritated spinal nerve is called radicular pain.

What is common among all these cases is the way they are treated. An epidural steroid injection is a common procedure to treat spinal nerve irritation. It is usually the last method of treatment if pain does not alleviate despite the use of hot compresses and stretching exercises.

The procedure is pretty quick and simple. A needle and syringe are used to enter the epidural space. The inflamed spinal nerve is then surrounded by small amounts of steroid deposits. In order to accurately place the needle in the epidural space, a fluoroscope ( a viewing device using X-rays) is used to visualize the local anatomy. The inflamed area is then treated with maximal amount of steroids.

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Your back or neck pain not getting better despite hot compresses or stretching exercises? Make an appointment to see a specialist. A compressed nerve might be the cause of your problem, and what you might need is a shot that we commonly associate with childbirth.